Woman struggling with mental health, drug issues ID'd as body found in landfill

Alameda County Sheriff has identified 23-year-old Karina Banta of Hayward as the woman whose body was found dead in a landfill near rural Livermore on New Year's Eve. (photo: Alameda County Sheriff's Office)

Alameda County Sheriff has identified 23-year-old Karina Banta of Hayward as the woman whose body was found dead in a landfill near rural Livermore on New Year's Eve. (photo: Alameda County Sheriff's Office)

SAN LEANDRO, Calif. (KTVU) - A young woman who Alameda County sheriff's detectives say had a history of mental health, substance abuse and homelessness struggles has been identified as the body found dead in a rural Livermore landfill on Monday.

23-year-old Karina Banta, of Hayward was found at Waste Management Landfill Altamont New Year's Eve. According to officials Banta had not been in contact with family members since November.

Officials do not know who she was seen with last prior to her death. The woman ended up in compost. An autopsy was performed on her Thursday morning and did not show traumatic injuries consistent with homicide, but investigators still consider the death suspicious.

Banta is said to have frequented western and central Alameda County, but spent most of her time in the Hayward area.

The cause of death is undetermined pending a toxicology report sheriff's officials said in a statement.

UPDATE: Woman found dead at @WasteManagement Altamont Landfill near Livermore ID’d as Karina Banta, 23, of Hayward. She struggled with mental health, drug abuse & homelessness & may have OD’d in receptacle & accidentally ended up in compost, per @ACSOSheriffspic.twitter.com/Jtcawzdqwr